Workforce Retention & Expansion

The retention of diverse professionals is an important component of this strategy. By creating an environment in which employees want to and can remain, the region’s economy thrives; not only through consistency but also through growth.

Action 1: Develop and implement strategies to support the retention of people of color within ICR.

Timeline: Strategy completed by summer of 2018. Implementation to begin by fall of 2018.

Cost: Cost already included in ICR IOWA budget

Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA

Action 2: Develop and implement strategies to increase the number of college internships offered in ICR.

Timeline: Strategy to be completed by summer of 2018. Implementation to begin fall of 2018.

Cost: Cost already included in ICR IOWA budget

Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA

Action 3: Develop and implement strategies that increase the number of college interns in ICR who choose to stay for full-time employment post-graduation.

Timeline: Strategy to be completed by summer of 2018. Implementation to begin fall of 2018.

Cost: Cost already included in ICR Iowa budget

Responsible Parties: ICR IOWA, Regional Chambers of Commerce

Action 4: Develop and implement a program to strengthen and promote positive workplace cultures.

Timeline: development to be completed in 2018 and implementation to begin in 2019

Cost: Cost already included in ICR Iowa budget

Responsible Parties: NewBoCo, CRMEA, and ICAD

Action 5: Create pathways to greater civic engagement for young professionals and people of color that increase retention.

The stakeholders will continue to measure a variety of metrics; including: number of diverse ncandidates who accept a position in ICR and are retained for 3 years or longer, number of college student internship, number of college students who accept full-time positions in ICR post-graduation, and number of companies who are rated as having positive cultures by employees.